ON
9
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
+ CONSIDER THAT SHE HAS ALREADY SUFFERED MORE THAN ENOUGH AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE SHE SUFFERS NO FURTHER, HE SAID.
THE HON ALLEN LEE ALSO CONSIDERED THAT ONE SHOULD NOT ASSUME EVERY CASE STATED IN THE BILL AS IT OCCURRED WOULD RESULT IN AUTOMATIC ABORTION.
HE BELIEVED THE DECISION STILL LIES WITH THE PREGNANT WOMAN WHO CAN EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER'S ADVICE TO TERMINATE HER PREGNANCY.
+ IF A PREGNANT WOMAN DECIDED TO CARRY ON WITH HER PREGNANCY UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THIS BILL, THEN IT IS SAFE TO ASSUME THAT SHE HAS ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A MOTHER AND SHE WILL PERFORM HER DUTIES AS A MOTHER TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY, SAID MR LEE.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT WE CANNOT ASK A SEX VICTIM, REGARDLESS OF RAPE OR INCEST, TO CARRY ON WITH HER PREGNANCY AND LET THE UNWANTED CHILD BE BORN AND LET HER GO THROUGH MORE THAN NINE MONTHS OF MENTAL AGONY AND TELL HER IF SHE IS UNWILLING THAT SOMEBODY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BABY.
+1 AM ALSO ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS AWARE THAT HER CHILD WILL BE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED SHE MUST BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE WHETHER SHE WANTS AN ABORTION. +
*
ON THE CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION ABOUT AGE 17, MR LEE NOTED THAT +THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GIVING A LICENCE FOR THE UNDER-AGED GIRLS TO HAVE FUN AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO EVEN BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT. +
+ I THINK OTHERWISE, + HE SAID.
+OUR COMMUNITY IS WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A GIRL WHO IS 16 YEARS OLD OR LESS IS UNLAWFUL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT HAPPENS AND WHEN A YOUNG GIRL BECOMES PREGNANT SHOULD SHE BE PUNISHED AND CONDEMNED FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE DUE TO HER MISTAKE?
+AND IN MANY INSTANCES IT MAY NOT BE HER OWN FAULT BECAUSE SHE MIGHT BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS.
+AN OPTION OF LEGAL ABORTION MUST BE PROVIDED, THEREFORE
I SUPPORT IT WITHOUT RESERVATION.+
HOWEVER, MR LEE NOTED THAT HE AND A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND WERE SEEKING AN ASSURANCE FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT IT WAS PREPARED ELL IN ADVANCE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE +EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO STATISTICS TO INDICATE WHAT MIGHT BE THE INCREASE IN DEMAND.+
++
THE HON WILLIAM BROWN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT WE ARE FREDCHATELY A MALE LEGISLATURE DEBATING A MATTER WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE CONCER CF MOTON. *
HE WORD
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